Profile image
Military service
Age:
21
Rank:
Lieutenant
Force:
Army
Unit/Regiment:
The Royal Canadian Corps of Signals
Birth:
February 4, 1923
Toronto, Ontario
Enlistment:
January 4, 1942
Toronto, Ontario
Death:
December 11, 1944
In the field
Burial/memorial information
Grave reference:
I. C. 19.
Additional information
Son of Wilfrid M. and Ruth Goldie Knowlson, of Toronto, Ontario.
Digital gallery of Lieutenant William Cavan Knowlson
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Soldiers' Tower Memorial
The Soldiers’ Tower was built by the University of Toronto Alumni Association in 1924 as a memorial to the Great War of 1914-1918. The names of those who died in that conflict are carved on the Memorial Screen at photo left. After the Second World War, more names were carved in the Memorial Arch at the Tower’s base. In total, almost 1200 names are inscribed. A Memorial Room inside the Tower contains mementoes and artifacts, and a 51-bell carillon serves as the audio element of the living memorial to the alumni, students, faculty and staff who died in the World Wars. The Soldiers’ Tower is the site of an annual Service of Remembrance. Photo: Kathy Parks, Alumni Relations. -
Memorial Arch
The names of those who died in the Second World War were added to the archway beneath the Soldiers’ Tower in 1949. The name of “Lt W. C. M. KNOWLSON R.C.Sigs” is among the names inscribed. Photo: Cody Gagnon, courtesy of Alumni Relations. -
Memorial Room
Soldiers’ Tower, University of Toronto. Photo: David Pike, courtesy of Alumni Relations. -
Memorial Book
University of Toronto Memorial Book, Second World War 1939-1945. Published by the Soldiers’ Tower Committee, 1993. Entry on page 36 reads: “Lt William Caven [sic] Merritt KNOWLSON Royal Canadian Signals. Former student, Applied Science and Engineering – Electrical, 1941-42. Killed in action in Holland, 11 December 1944. Buried in Schoonselhof Cemetery, Antwerp, Belgium.” -
Grave Marker
Grave marker … Schoonselhof Cemetery … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens -
Cemetery Entrance
Entrance … Schoonselhof Cemetery … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens -
Cross of Sacrifice
Cross of Sacrifice located in Plots 4 and 4A … Schoonselhof Cemetery … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens -
Cemetery
View of Plot 3 … Schoonselhof Cemetery … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens -
Newspaper clipping
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Circumstances of Death
Casualty card. -
Newspaper clipping
From the Toronto Telegram December 1942. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
Digital gallery of
Lieutenant William Cavan Knowlson
Digital gallery of
Lieutenant William Cavan Knowlson
Digital gallery of
Lieutenant William Cavan Knowlson
Digital gallery of
Lieutenant William Cavan Knowlson
Digital gallery of
Lieutenant William Cavan Knowlson
Digital gallery of
Lieutenant William Cavan Knowlson
Digital gallery of
Lieutenant William Cavan Knowlson
Digital gallery of
Lieutenant William Cavan Knowlson
Digital gallery of
Lieutenant William Cavan Knowlson
In the Books of Remembrance
Commemorated on:
Page 354 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance.
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